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Primecorp’s Retail Leasing Team is a dedicated group of brokers, researchers, analysts, marketers, and administrators, with over three decades of experience matching the needs of Ottawa area retailers with landlords who can provide ideal retail space and locations suited to the retailers’ specific requirements. Our Retail Leasing Team has a personalized approach geared toward creating highly advantageous leasing arrangements that are mutually beneficial for a variety of retail tenants and landlords offering prime retail space.

Primecorp's Retail Leasing Team Under Experienced Leadership

Primecorp’s Retail Leasing Team is led by Candice Lerner-Fry, who was guided and mentored by her father, highly regarded broker and founding Principal of Primecorp Commercial Realty, Steve Lerner. Steve retired as an active broker with Primecorp last year, but has stayed on as an advisor so we can continue to tap into his vast knowledge of the retail leasing market. Candice is considered a market expert in landlord and tenant representation, with a wealth of related experience. The Lerners have been recognized for brokering more retail transactions than all of Primecorp’s national competitors combined.

Candice Lerner-Fry: Primecorp Retail Leasing Team Lead

Candice Lerner-Fry joined Primecorp’s Retail Leasing Team in 2008. For the past decade, Candice has worked on hundreds of retail transactions with both local and national retailers and landlords. Drawing on her experience as a manager with a large national retailer, Candice is known in the industry for her expertise in retail leasing in the National Capital Region and Eastern Ontario. Candice is an active member of ICSC (International Council of Shopping Centers). Candice is fluent in both French and English and regularly attends various retail conferences across Canada, where she continuous builds her networks in the industry.

Candice is well known for brokering a wide variety of retail leasing arrangements throughout Ottawa, especially in high-demand areas like Westboro, the Glebe and the Byward Market where, for example, she recently brokered the leasing arrangement for the first Starbuck’s Reserve Coffee Bar in Canada:

The Byward Market is such an important and historic part of Ottawa and especially of the Ottawa Retail Market. To bring such a singular type of experience and such a revitalizing force to the Byward Market, to be the agent behind the first Starbucks Reserve Coffee Bar in Canada, is something I’m truly proud of. I couldn’t have done this without my amazing team or the great team at Starbucks. – Candice Lerner-Fry, Primecorp

Recent Retail Leasing Deals Brokered by Primecorp

Here is a small sampling of the some of the retail leasing arrangements Primecorp has recently brokered in key Ottawa locations:

787 Bank Street, Ottawa, Ontario

This nice piece of ground-floor, prime retail space is located in Ottawa’s prestigious Glebe neighbourhood with nearby retailers including Metro, Magpie, and Shoppers Drugmart.

113 - 115 Clearance Street, Byward Market, Ottawa, Ontario

The Byward Market in downtown Ottawa is full of energy and is usually hoping with activity. Easily accessible to pedestrian and vehicular traffic, and in close proximity to public transit’s central connection at the Rideau Centre, this vibrant, upbeat area attracts locals and tourists alike, presenting some amazing retail opportunities like 113 - 115 Clearance avenue.

113-115 Clearance Street: Byward Market, Ottawa

354-B Richmond Road Ottawa, Ontario

354 Richmond Road offers street front retail space in the heart of Ottawa’s Westboro Village. This thriving area is home to many of Canada’s hippest shops and offers some of the best fashion, furniture, restaurants and lifestyle shopping in the entire Ottawa region.

56 Sparks Street Mall, Ottawa, Ontario

The parliament district in downtown Ottawa is a highly sought tourist destination for travelers from near and far. The Sparks Street Mall is a unique pedestrian-only shopping district offering a range of prized locations with strong retail potential. Just off bustling upper Elgin Street, 56 Sparks Street Mall, with 3,000 square feet of ground-floor retail space, is just such a gem.

Some Current Retail Leasing Opportunities with Primecorp

Here is a sampling of some of Primecorp’s current retail leasing opportunities in Ottawa:

Well situated in the Lowertown area and with easy access to Hwy 417, 112 Nelson Street offers 1,700 square feet of retail/industrial space. This property includes a full-fixture kitchen and is ideal for a cooking school, bakery or catering shop. The property is close to The University of Ottawa, the Rideau Centre and the Byward Market.

Located on the corner of Charlemagne Blvd. and Tenth Line Rd., this property has strong has visibility from both major arteries in Ottawa’s east end, and consists of ± 5,045 square feet end-cap space with a possibility of being subdivided. There is ample parking on site and storefront signage available. Neighbouring retailers in this high-traffic area include: Metro, Shoppers Drug Mart, Tim Hortons, CIBC, Dollarama, Goodlife Fitness, Second Cup, and more.

Located at the busy intersection of Hazeldean Road and Castlefrank Road, this property offers ±1,948 square feet of prime retail space, within the heart of Kanata, which is home to Ottawa's thriving tech sector. This property is situated in a plaza which includes KFC and Taco Bell, Cash Money, Egg Roll Plus, APEX Art Framing, Kanata Vacuum Centre and more with traffic counts of over 20,000 vehicles daily, ample parking and excellent signage availability.

Retail Prospects for Ottawa in 2017

The Ottawa retail market continues to cruise on the back of greater disposable income, increased government spending and an increasing population. The federal government has been on a bit of hiring spree in the last year adding thousands of new, well-paying jobs in the Ottawa region:

Overall the unemployment rate for Ottawa-Gatineau in May 2017 was down 1.1% to 5.7%, compared to May 2016 (Statistics Canada). The increased job prospects for the Ottawa region bodes very well for retailers across the board.

In the last few years there have also been some major retail investments in the area, such as the Rideau Shopping Centre (an investment of over $360 million) and Tanger Outlets in Kanata, which will attract many new retail tenants. These investments and others around the city are creating a sense of optimism for Ottawa’s retail sector in 2017:

The retail market is anticipated to have a strong 2017 due to a number of factors - a strengthening economy which will be boosted by the influx of tourism that is expected as Ottawa plays host to numerous events and celebrations, a strong non-residential sector, a slight strengthening in housing starts, and finally growth in public administration employment – the region’s largest employer. - Cushman Wakefield

Despite the prosperity and optimism that we are currently experiencing in the National Capital Region, matching the requirements of specific retailers with landlords who can provide ideal spaces, in the right locations and at competitive prices requires experience, savvy and a real working knowledge of the retail landscape in Ottawa and the people involved. That’s where Candice Lerner-Fry and the dedicated staff of Primecorp’s Retail Leasing Team can make a real impact for any retail enterprise looking to locate to, or within the Ottawa area. If you are a landlord with retail space for lease, or a retailer looking to set up shop in Ottawa, contact Primecorp today to see what a difference our experience can make.